I am a pretty huge fran, but I probably get it from repeated exposure and familial bias. My parents are fairly avid collectors and have several "original" pieces from when he was alive and also several "contemporary" pieces from the studio, which continues production under his daughter's guidance.

Big fan, though Nakashima is insanely priced these days. Solo Rago can be a source for rare original stuff. I've been to the studio a few times and met his son. Worth a trip. Douglas, have you priced out their collection? They could be sitting on a fortune. lefty

Prices are totally insane-o these days, you are correct. The studio is a fun place to walk around, quite beautiful. The bigger pieces in my folks' collection - including two dinner tables - are contemporary - they're still pricey but not unobtanium. They have some friends though who have some original dinner tables with full conoid chair sets that are probably worth $100Ks. I think they have a few original chairs, but they also have a coffee table that I remember them buying at auction for $5K. At the time, it was a major reach for them. It has turned out to be a good investment.

Is it feasible to get some sort of replica of the conoid desk made? Can't really swing the auction/resale prices seeing as how one Nakashima dining chair typically goes for more than I have in my savings account.

they did a retrospective of his stuff at the Japan-America museum in LA. unbelievably beautiful ... even better in person than in pictures. and one old and very dear friend has a nakashima bench that she bought back in the early 1970s. i make a point of sitting in it ever time i visit. will probably be my only chance.

Nakashima seems nice too, but in my view his style is just a slightly modern take on Japanese furniture that has been done for ages.

i think that's the point. You have to see and sit on a Nakashima to appreciate him. They really are beautiful pieces of furniture that somehow feel alive. There are other options for slab furniture. Here are some raw pieces at BDDW: